Variable delay pin-setting apparatus



Dec. 31, 1963 w. s. MILLER 3,116,063 VARIABLE DELAY PIN-SETTING APPARATUS Filed June 22, 1961 INVENTOR.

NENDELL SM/L 1.: BY

ATTORNEY United States Patent Ofifice Patented Dec. 31, 1963 3,116,ll63 VARIABLE DELAY PlN-SETTlNG APPARATUS Wendell S. Miller, 1341 Coinstoclt Ave, Los Angeles, Calif. Filed June 22, 196i, Ser. No. 129,140 6 Claims. (Cl. 273-- l3) This invention relates to certain improvements in automatic pin setting apparatus for bowling alleys.

Conventional pin setting apparatus includes a control switch or unit which is responsive to the arrival of a ball at the pin end of the alley, and which controls the initiation of a cycle of operation of the pin handling mechanism. Operation of the ball actuated switch energizes timing means which, after the expiration of a predetermined short delay period (normally about four seconds), closes the circuit to the pin handling mechanism to commence a cycle of operation of that mechanism. The purpose of the delay period is to allow sufficient time after arrival of the ball for all pin action to be completed, to thereby prevent the pin setting mechanism from interfering with the ball induced movement of the pins.

The oificial rules of the American Bowling Congress require that, if any pin remains standing after a bowler rolls a first ball, none of the pins shall then be touched until after all pins have completely stopped moving. The purpose of this rule is of course obvious, since even the slightest movement of a pin may cause it to ultimately fall, or to knock another pin down.

Unfortunately, conventional automatic pin setting apparatus does not in all situations comply properly with the above mentioned rule, because of the fact that a pin may in some instances remain spinning or moving for an extended period of time, considerably beyond the delay period which is built into the machine. A pin may for example remain in movement for six, seven or more seconds, and may be fully capable of knocking another pin down well beyond the normal four second delay period. On the other hand, in many instances all movement of the pins ceases long before the termination of the built-in four second delay period, so that much of that delay period is unnecessary, and results in a substantial waste of time during a full line of bowling. Thus, the predetermined fixed delay period utilized in prior bowling apparatus is in many instances excessive and wasteful of time, and in other instances too short to satisfy the American Bowling Congress rules and assure completion of all pin action without interference from the pin setting mechanism.

The general object of the present invention is to provide an improved arrangement in which the specified delay period between operation of the pin actuated switch or unit and initiation of operation of the pin handling mechanism is variable, and is automatically controlled by the actual movement of the pins themselves. Automatic control means are provided which are conditioned by arrival of a ball at the pin end of the alley, and which automatically respond to the completion of all pin movement after the arrival of a ball to energize the pin handling apparatus and thereby commence its operation. If the pins cease their movement in a very short period of time, less than the usual four second period, the automatic control means will immediately commence operation of the pin setting mechanism and avoid wasted time. If a pin remains in movement for a very extended period of time, the apparatus will prevent commencement of a cycle of operation of the pin handling mechanism until that extended movement has stopped. Thus, all American Bowling Congress rules are properly satisfied, and in addition the apparatus normally results in a substantial saving of time in the overall operation of the apparatus.

For responding to cessation of movement of the pins, I presently prefer to utilize a light responsive unit or units, positioned to view the portion of the alley on which the pins are placed, and constructed to respond to variations in the light patterns which result from movement of the pin. In one form of the invention, a grid or reticle is positioned in front of a light responsive cell, and is designed to cause variations in the total output of the cell as long as any pin is moving. in another form of the invention, a photo conductive cell may be employed, having a pattern such as to respond in the desired manner to pin movement.

The above features and objects of the present invention will be better understood from the following detailed description of the typical embodiments illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary perspective view showing the pin end of a bowling alley having automatic pin setting apparatus embodying the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a circuit diagram representing the electrical control circuit for the FIG. 1 apparatus;

FIG. 3 is a view representing, somewhat diagrammatically, the interior of the light responsive unit;

FIG. 4 is a view taken on line 4l of MG. 3, and showing the grid or reticle of the light responsive unit;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary plan view representing the manner in which the light responsive unit may view the pin area; and

FIG. 6 is a view representing a second type of light responsive element which may be employed in the apparatus.

In FIG. 1, there is represented at 16 a portion of a conventional horizontal elongated bowling alley surface, along which balls are rolled toward the area at which pins 11 are received. After a ball has passed through the pin area, the ball ultimately engages and deflects rearwardly, through a short distance, a vertical transverse cushion or barrier 12 extending across the rear end of the alley. Such deflection of barrier 12 serves to actuate (usually close) a switch 13, which thereby produces a signal to the rest of the control circuitry indicating that a ball has passed through the pin area and arrived at the end of the alley.

The usual mechanism for engaging and handling or etting the pins in the present apparatus may be completely conventional, and identical with that customarily employed for the purpose, and has therefore been shown only very generally in this application. The same is true of the cycle control circuitry, for determining what cycle of operation is performed by the pin handling mechanism upon each arrival of a ball, except insofar as energization of the cycle control circuitry is delayed by the present automatic control means which responds to movement of the pins. More particularly, the pin handling mechanism is represented in the drawing as including the usual pin sensing and pick-up unit M, which is positioned above the normal locations of the pins, and which is adapted to be actuated downwardly to engage the upper ends of the pins. At its underside, unit l4 carries conventional means for sensing which pins remain standing after a ball has passed the pin area and engaged barrier 12, and unit 14- of course also includes all of the conventional apparatus for gripping the pins, picking them up, and lo ering the pins into position at the proper times.

Besides the pin sensing and handling unit 14, the mechanism of the pin setting apparatus includes also the usual sweep bar 15, which extends generally horizontally as shown, and is mounted for movement between its illustrated elevated or retracted position and a lowered position adjacent the surface of alley 10. In that lowered position, sweep bar 15 is actuable reaiwardly through the pin area, to sweep the alley clear of pins.

The motor equipment, linkages, and other mechanical pparatus for actuating unit 14 and sweep bar through their various operations are all completely conventional and follow the conventional cycle of operations (except as delayed by the present light responsive apparatus). Consequently, this actuating apparatus has been represented only diagrammatically in the drawing as a box it) (see FIGS. 1 and 2). The difierent cycles of operation of apparatus 16, which actuates units 14 and 15, are controlled by a cycle control circuit represented diagrammatically at E7. As in the case of units l2, 13, 3 .4, 15 and lo, the control circuit 17 may be conventional, to roduce the same cycle of operation of units 14 and 15 which is customarily employed, with the initiation of each cycle of operation however being elayed by the later to be discussed light responsive apparatus.

To now discuss the portion of the apparatus which is not conventional, and which is unique to the present invention, the unit for responding to movement of pins 11 is shown at 18 in the figures. This unit includes a typically rectangular light-tight box or housing 19, which may have a lens Ztl through which light may pass from the exterior of the housing onto a light responsive cell 21 (PEG. 3). This cell Z ll may be either a photoelectric cell, adapted to regulate the passage of current from a battery 211 (FIG. 2) through the cell in accordance with the amount of light falling on the cell, or a photovo taic cell acting to itself generate an electrical signal depending upon the intensity of light falling on cell 21. in either event, cell 21 desirably has a relatively large cross-sectional area, and may be of square configuration corresponding to the size and shape of reticle or grid 22 shown in REG. 4. Unit 13 is so positioned and constructed as to pick up light from the entire pin area, that is the portion of the alley lti on which pins ll are received, and to focus that light on cell 21. Unit 18 may be directed slightly downwardly, at an angle, or otherwise positioned to assure against the focusing of light from any moving persons or objects not in the pin area onto the cell. Thus, the cell responds only to movement of the pins.

The light passing aperture at lens 2% may be very small, so that the lens has a very high f-stop number, or alternatively there may be no lens, and the device may function essentially as a pin-hole camera. The focus of camera device 18 is not critical, but should approximate the focus plane of the image of the floor upon which fallen pins may roll.

Reticle or grid 22 is of a cross-section corresponding to cell ill, and is disposed across the path of light from lens 2%) to element 21. The grid is designed to form a pattern of light passing areas 23 and opaque areas 24, typically arranged in a checker board type pattern as shown, so that some portions of the image of the pin area are permitted to pass to cell 2-31 while other portions of that image can not pass to the cell. The number and arrangement of the light passing and opaque areas 23 and are such that any movement of a pin ll within the pin area will change substantially the amount of light falling on photoresponsive cell 21, and therefore alter the intern sity of the electrical signal controlled by that cell. Thus, as long as there is movement of a pin within the pin area, the signal in circuit 25 (PEG. 2) will vary in potential and amperage, but as soon as the pin stops moving, the signal in circuit 25 will cease its variation and become constant.

It maybe assumed that the pin area of the alley is illuminated by an electric light energized by 60 cycle alternating current. For example, the illumination may be a fluorescent light represented at 43 in FIG. 1. Since the light from this source will inherently vary at a frequency of 120 c.p.s., there may be connected into the photoelectiic cell circuit a notching filter 4?; acting to remove the resultant 120 cycle hum from this circuit (but adapted to pass all other frequencies).

The signal from cell 21 is applied to the primary coil of a transformer 26, whose output circuit 27 therefore contains an alternating current output when any pin is moving, and has no output when all pins stop. This alternating current is rectified by a rectifying circuit 28, and from that circuit is directed through the coil 29 of a relay 3t whose movable contact 31 is normally held in closed position and is actuable to open position upon energization of coil 29. Contact 31 is connected into the input circuit 32 leading to control circuit '17, to control the transmission of electricity from a power source 3-3 to control circuit 17. When the circuit from power source 33 to control circuit .17 is closed, the signal thus transmitted to the input side of circuit 17 energizes that circuit to commence a predetermined cycle of operation of units 14 and 15.

In addition to contact 31, there is also connected into circuit 32 the normally open contact 34 of a relay 35, whose coil 36 is energized by power source 37 upon closure of the previously mentioned switch 13 which is actuated by engagement of a ball with barrier 12. Relay 35 is a latching type relay, having a latch represented at 3% which retains contact 34 closed, after energization of coil 36, and until receipt of a feed-back signal through lines 39 from the input side of control circuit 17. This feed-back signal energizes a latch releasing unit represented at 40, to release latch 38 and allow contact 34 to return to its normal open position. As will be apparent, the feed-back signal is applied to lines 3? as soon as both of the contacts 31 and 34 are closed.

To now discuss the operation of the apparatus thus far described, assume that all of the pins ill are initially in position, and that units 14 and 15 are in their elevated positions. A bowler may then roll a ball down the alley and toward pins Jill, and let us assume that he knocks some but not all of the pins down. When the ball has passed through the pin area and engages rear barrier 12, such engagement with the barrier closes switch 13 to actuate contact 34 of relay 35 to its closed position. Latch 3S retains the contact 34 in that closed position, even though switch 13 returns to its opened condition.

As the pins move about the alley, the variations in the integrated light intensity falling on photoelectric cell 21 will produce a continually varying electrical signal in the primary coil of transformer 26, which signal will produce an alternating current in the secondary coil of the transformer, rectified to a direct current at 23, which direct current energizes coil 29 and retains contact 31 in open position. As long as this contact remains open, no signal can be transmitted from power source 33 to circuit 17, to commence the operation of the pin handling apparatus. However, as soon as the movement of all pins ceases, then the output from cell 21 stops, and since coil 29 is no longer energized, contact 31 closes. In this way, the circuit from power source 33 to control circuit 17 is closed, giving an instantaneous signal which is utilized to initiate a cycle of operations controlled by circuit 17. The same signal is fed back by lines 39 to unit 40, which releases latch 38 to return contact 34 to its normal open position.

As soon as the input signal reaches control circuit 17, this circuit automatically commences the predetermined cycle of operation of mechanism to, and in particular may first cause this mechanism to lower unit 15 to its sweeping position adjacent the alley floor. Next the pinsctting apparatus proper 14- descends and detects any pins which remain standing and are therefore in position to be reset. If any such pins are detected, the setter 14 lifts them, the sweeping barrier 15 moves rearwardly to sweep all fallen pins from the pin area, setter l4 replaces all lifted pins, and both units 14 and 15 return to their upwardly retracted positions of FIG. 1. If the ball is the second one rolled by a particular bowler, or if the setter detects that all pins have been knocked down on the first ball, the sweeping barrier clears the area of all pins and the setter resets an entire new set of pins and is returned to condition to repeat the cycle described.

It will of course be understood that the above discussed cycle controlled by unit 1'7 and the related apparatus may be varied, if desired, from the typical cycle discussed above. For example, the apparatus may be designed to cause sweeping element to descend at the commencement or" the delay period, rather than at the termination of that period.

To assure adequacy of the present disclosure, and particularly the cycle control circuit 17 and controlled apparatus, it is noted that this circuit and apparatus may typically be the same as that shown in U.S. Patent No. 2,559,274, issued to William C. Brockhuysen, on Bowling Pin Setting Machine. More specifically, the variable delay relay 34) of the present invention takes the place of delayed closing relay 3%" of that patent. It may be considered that relay 308 of the Brockhuysen patent is a portion of circuit 17 of the present disclosure, and that the cycle control apparatus which is set in operation by closure of relay 3&8 constitutes the rest of circuit 17. The closure of relays 30 and 35 of the present device is to be considered as closing the energizing circuit to relay 308 of the patent, to thereby commence the automatic cycle of operation of the sweeping barrier, etc.

FIG. 6 may be considered as a view taken on line 4--4 of FIG. 3, but showing a variational type of light responsive unit. In particular, this unit 21a is a photoconductive element, consisting of a typically rectangular fiat non-conductive plate 140, having a thin conductor line 141 deposited thereon and following the circuitous waving path represented in FIG. 6. The opposite ends of this photoconductive conductor line 141 are connected into circuit 25 of FIG. 2, in the same manner in which cell 21 is connected into that circuit, so that the amount of light impinging on waving conductor line 141 in FIG. 6 controls the electrical signal in circuit 25. As will be apparent, no grid or reticle of the type shown at 22 is necessary in the FIG. 6 arrangement, since the circuitous path of the conductor 141 itself serves to cause a variation in electrical output upon any movement of the image of a pin on the surface of unit 21a. Except in these respects specifically discussed above, the construction and operation of the FIG. 6 arrangement may be identical with the first form of the invention.

I claim:

1. The combination comprising a bowling alley having a floor surface with a pin area at one end thereof at which a plurality of pins are to be positioned on said floor in upstanding positions at a plurality of predetermined pin locations respectively, ball actuated means responsive to arrival of a ball at said end of the alley, pin setting mechanism for setting the pins at said locations and actuable through a cycle of automatic operation after said arrival of a ball at said end of the alley, and automatic control means for controlling said operation of the pin setting mechanism, said automatic control means including motion sensing means constructed and positioned to respond to movement of a pin at any point across the entire horizontal extent of said area, including points between said pin locations, and even when a pin is rolling or spinning while lying on its side on said floor, and said control means including means operable by said motion sensing means to prevent actuation of said pin setting mechanism as long as any pin is moving after arrival of a ball and to cause such actuation when the pin movement stops.

2. The combination comprising a bowling alley having a floor surface with a pin area at one end thereof at which a plurality of pins are to be positioned on said floor in upstanding positions at a plurality of predetermined pin locations respectively, ball actuated means responsive to arrival of a ball at said end of the alley, pin setting mechanism for setting the pins at said locations and actuable through a cycle of automatic operation after said arrival of a ball at said end of the alley, and automatic control means for controlling said operation of the pin setting mechanism, said automatic control means including means responsive to movement of a pin at any point in said area, including points between said pin locations, and even when a pin is lying on its side on side floor, and said control means including means operable by said movement responsive means to prevent acutation of said pin setting mechanism as long as any pin is moving after arrival of a ball and to cause such actuation when the pin movement stops, said movement responsive means including a light actuated unit positioned and constructed to view the entire horizontal extent of said pin area, including said points between said pin locations, and including an area close enough to said floor to view a pin lying on its side, and operable to respond to movement anywherein the viewed area.

3. The combination comprising a bowling alley having a pin area at one end at which pins are to be positioned at predetermined initial locations, a ball actuated switch responsive to arrival of a ball at said end of the alley, pin setting mechanism actuable through a cycle of automatic operation after said arrival of a ball at said end of the alley, and automatic control means for controlling said operation of the pin setting mechanism, said auto matic control means including a second switch, light responsive means positioned to receive light from said entire pin area including points between adjacent ones of said initial pin locations and including an area low enough to view a pin lying on its side at said pin area, said light responsive means being constructed to respond to light variations caused by movement of a pin in said area, whether the pin is upstanding or on its side, and operable to actuate said second switch upon the termination of such pin movement, and circuitry conditioned by ball induced actuation of said first switch, and then operable by subsequent actuation of said second switch to cause operation of the pin setting mechanism when pin movement stops after said arrival of a ball.

4. The combination as recited in claim 3, in which said light responsive means include a light actuated unit onto which an image of said entire pin area is directed and constructed to respond differently to the same intensity of light at different locations on said image.

5. The combination comprising a bowling alley having a floor surface with a pin area at one end thereof at which a plurality of pins are to be positioned on said floor in upstanding positions at a plurality of predetermined pin locations respectively, ball actuated means responsive to airival of a ball at said end of the alley, pin setting mechanism for setting the pins at said locations and actuable through a cycle of automatic operation after said arrival of a ball at said end of the alley, and automatic control means for controlling said operation of the pin setting mechanism, said automatic control means including motion sensing means constructed and positioned to respond to movement of a pin at any point across the entire horizontal extent of said area, including points between said pin locations, and even when a pin is rolling or spinning while lying on its side on said floor, and said control means including means operable by said motion sensing means to prevent actuation of said pin setting mechanism as long as any pin is moving after arrival of a ball and to cause such actuation when the pin movement stops, said motion sensing means including a light actuated unit positioned and constructed to view said entire area and onto which an image of said viewed area is directed and having a reticle acting to block out the passage of light to said light actuated unit at a plurality of diiferent locations on said image.

6. The combination comprising a bowling alley having a floor surface with a pin area at one end thereof at which a plurality of pins are to be positioned on said floor in upstanding positions at a plurality of predetermined pin locations respectively, ball actuated means responsive to arrival of a ball at said end of the ally, pin setting mechanism for setting the pins at said locations and actuable through a cycle of automatic operation after said arrival of a ball at said end of the alley, and automatic control means for controlling said operation of the pin setting mechanism, said automatic control means including motion sensing means constructed and positioned to respond to movement of a pin at any point across the entire horizontal extent of said area, including points between said pin locations, and even when a pin is rolling or spinning While lying on its side on said floor, and Said control means including means operable by said motion sensing means to prevent actuation of said pin setting mechanism as long as any pin is moving after arrival of a ball and to cause such actuation when the pin movement stops, said motion sensing means including a photoresistive element having an elongated conductor following a circuitous pathv and onto which there is directed an image of said entire area.

Johns et al. Oct. 14, 1952 Sanders et al Apr. 18, 1961 

1. THE COMBINATION COMPRISING A BOWLING ALLEY HAVING A FLOOR SURFACE WITH A PIN AREA AT ONE END THEREOF AT WHICH A PLURALITY OF PINS ARE TO BE POSITIONED ON SAID FLOOR IN UPSTANDING POSITIONS AT A PLURALITY OF PREDETERMINED PIN LOCATIONS RESPECTIVELY, BALL ACTUATED MEANS RESPONSIVE TO ARRIVAL OF A BALL AT SAID END OF THE ALLEY, PIN SETTING MECHANISM FOR SETTING THE PINS AT SAID LOCATIONS AND ACTUABLE THROUGH A CYCLE OF AUTOMATIC OPERATION AFTER SAID ARRIVAL OF A BALL AT SAID END OF THE ALLEY, AND AUTOMATIC CONTROL MEANS FOR CONTROLLING SAID OPERATION OF THE PIN SETTING MECHANISM, SAID AUTOMATIC CONTROL MEANS INCLUDING MOTION SENSING MEANS CONSTRUCTED AND POSITIONED TO RESPOND TO MOVEMENT OF A PIN AT ANY POINT ACROSS THE ENTIRE HORIZONTAL EXTENT OF SAID AREA, INCLUDING POINTS BETWEEN SAID PIN LOCATIONS, AND EVEN WHEN A PIN IS ROLLING OR SPINNING WHILE LYING ON ITS SIDE ON SAID FLOOR, AND SAID CONTROL MEANS INCLUDING MEANS OPERABLE BY SAID MOTION SENSING MEANS TO PREVENT ACTUATION OF SAID PIN SETTING MECHANISM AS LONG AS ANY PIN IS MOVING AFTER ARRIVAL OF A BALL AND TO CAUSE SUCH ACTUATION WHEN THE PIN MOVEMENT STOPS. 